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Washington Metro Division Shows an Overall Increase of 12,100 Jobs in March

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Washington Metro Division Shows an Overall Increase of 12,100 Jobs in March

Washington Metro Division’s Unemployment Rate at 5.1 Percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary March job estimates show an increase of 12,100 jobs for a total of 2,496,200 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 9,600 jobs, while the public sector increased by 2,500 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted March 2014 unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, which is down 0.1 percentage points from the February rate of 5.2 percent.

The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for March 2014 was 2,572,100, of which 2,439,800 were employed and 132,400 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 2,861,800, of which 2,727,500 were employed and 134,200 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 4.7 percent. In the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland Metropolitan Division, the civilian labor force was 3,229,400, of which 3,067,100 were employed and 162,300 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 5.0 percent. For the month, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.1 percentage points each, while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring was unchanged.

The Washington Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 28,800, while the number of employed increased by 35,000, and the number of unemployed decreased by 6,200. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 27,600, while the number of employed increased by 35,400, and the number of unemployed decreased by 7,900. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 23,900, while the number of employed increased by 34,800 and the number of unemployed decreased by 10,900. For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and Suburban Ring decreased by 0.3 percentages points each, while the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.4 percentage points.

Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 12,100 jobs. The private sector increased by 9,600 jobs, and the public sector increased by 2,500 jobs over the month. Four private sectors along with the state and local government had over-the-month job gains. Four private sectors along with the federal government had over-the-month job losses. Job gains were registered in other services which gained 100 jobs; educational and health services gained 400 jobs; professional and business services gained 4,200 jobs; and leisure and hospitality gained 5,800 jobs. Job losses were registered in information which lost 400 jobs; financial activities lost 100 jobs; mining, logging, and construction lost 100 jobs; and trade, transportation, and utilities lost 300 jobs. Manufacturing had no over-the-month job change. Government overall gained 2,500 jobs over the month. State government gained 2,000 jobs, while the federal government decreased by 500 jobs, and the local government increased by 1,000 jobs.

Estimated Labor Force and Employment for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division includes: The District of Columbia, Virginia Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park and the Virginia Counties of Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren; the Maryland Counties of Calvert, Charles, and Prince Georges; and the West Virginia County of Jefferson.

The estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be the summation of the estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division (contained in this release) and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division (to be released by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation).

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